Commentators, pundits and coaches will refer to "the number 9" and people will instantly know which position they're taking about the same can't be said for most other roles in football (except perhaps the attacking midfield role of the Number 10). Since then, the Number 9 shirt has developed a level of significance that just isn't attached to most other jersey numbers. What connects most formations used by association football teams during the last century is that they rely on having at least one central striker capable of causing problems in the opposition's defensive third.ĭue to the advanced position occupied by the centre-forward, when it was first decided that it would be a good idea for players to be given squad numbers to distinguish themselves on the field (during a 1928 match between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday at Highbury), it made sense that these forwards would be given the Number 9 shirt. Go back further still to the first half of the twentieth century and coaches were structuring their teams in a very different way, with the 3-3-4 "W-M" formation being Europe's most popular shape. Today, a wide variety of shapes are used at the highest level including 4-3-3 and 3-5-2, but in the Premier League in the 1990s and 2000s, the dominant formation was 4-4-2 (a flat bank of four defenders, four midfielders in front of them, and a strike partnership up top). Soccer formations are constantly being adapted and tweaked by football coaches and strategists. The Origins Of The Number 9 Position In Soccer But before we spend more time discussing the skills and duties of the Number 9, let's take a brief look at where this role first came from. That being said, over the years the role has developed and changed, and today not all players who wear the number 9 jersey are plain goal poachers, looking to hit the six-yard-line and tap in a cutback.įor example, the False 9 role has developed in recent years, as players like Firmino are given a slightly deeper, more creative, less conventional set of striking responsibilities. The Number 9 is generally the most attack-minded position on the soccer field, and generally speaking these players will be the top goal scorers on their team. A focal point in their side's attack, a good Number 9 will predominantly occupy the final third of the pitch when their team is in possession, looking to connect with other attacking players and create and finish chances. In soccer, a traditional Number 9 is a striker or centre-forward, positioned at the top end of the pitch and depended upon by their team mates for goals. Each position on the pitch is traditionally associated with a different number - #1 for goalkeepers, #3 for left backs, #8 for central midfielders, and so on - and for centre-forwards, it's the iconic Number 9. Shirt numbers were first introduced in the early twentieth century as a way of identifying and distinguishing between players on the field, and they've stuck around ever since. Later on, we're also going to take you through some of the most iconic players to have worn the Number 9 shirt over the years. We'll be honing in on the Number 9 role, diving into the key responsibilities and duties associated with this part of the pitch, and explaining the origins and history of this soccer position. In this article, we'll be focusing on those attackers stationed in the most advanced area of the soccer field. Players such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi have been hailed by generations of fans across the world for their incredible ability to beautifully link midfield and attack however, the players being supplied by these world-beating playmakers can sometimes end up being the ones who gain an even greater share of the headlines. In soccer, the creative ingenuity showcased by those who wear the Number 10 jersey has led to a legendary reputation developing around this famous shirt number.
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